My 6 year old DSL modem is apparently dying. Turning the power on and off to the modem immediately brings it back for a while, but it is unreliable.

I added on a router for a workstation and a hardwired network printing and an access point for wireless, but I would like to replace all of these pieces with a single unit. Requirements are compatibility with AT&T DSL, a hardwired network printer and workstation, and N and G wireless. Anyone have suggestions? Thanks.

My old one died last year. I remembered what a pain it was to set up - having to log in to the manufacturer’s site to link it up. I bought a Netgear N600 dual band wireless router. It was unbelievably easy to set up. We use both Macs and PCs with it. It’s very fast. Great range - we have a two story home with a basement. My office is in the basement and that’s were the router is. I can use my laptop from any room in the house.

I did start there. I looked at what ATT has and all of the modems have bad reviews when cross-checked on a search engine. So, I’m looking for something better than the low end units they sell. For an extra $20 to $40 I can get a top of the line model, but I haven’t decided on which and I’m open to suggestions.

Linksys and D-Link both make good modems, routers, etc. You shouldn’t have to look much further than those two. I’ve had a D-link wireless router set up for many years and it hasn’t given me any trouble.

I’ve had several reliable D-Link products, but the company is bad when it comes to updating their software. Essentially they don’t it. So you have to buy new compatible hardware whenever you add on a computer with a newer operating system. Makes money for them when they don’t just give away a free driver upgrade, but as a customer I don’t care for that. Just my opinion.

I had for around 10 years a Linksys wrt54g. The wireless signal went down to about 20ft range from 150ft. My bro inlaw had the same one and I bought it from him and now I am back to full range. I would buy the same one. They still sell them.

No. Look at the link you sent me. The first line of the description says something to the effect that you already have a modem and now you need this router. I’m looking for a wireless router with a built in DSL modem that supports at least N and G and maybe both at the same time.

I could just buy a modem alone, but I want to make some desk space by retiring my access point and router. So getting everything in one saves me space and is worth paying an extra $40 or so. Also the other pieces could die at any time because they are 3 or 4 years old now. Thanks for trying to help.

I was looking at reviews on the motorola, which are generally positive and it is less expensive than the netgear, but there are many complaints about it being a difficult installation. After that it performs very well. Do you remember if it was an easy installation for you?

Before you give up on your old modem, try spraying the on-off switch with contact cleaner and clicking it maybe fifty times (with the modem unplugged). Can’t hurt, may help: a whole bunch of problems I had with a ‘bad’ HDD went away when I cleaned the power switch of the mobile rack it was mounted in.

I’m not a big fan of all-in-one designs. Sure, it’s probably just paranoia, but I have a netgear hardware firewall behind my DSL “modem”, and my wifi AP connects in to that. If you need the deskspace, just hang ‘em on the wall, put a frame around it all and call it art. :-)

35
posted on 11/21/2011 4:28:41 PM PST
by Ramius
(personally, I give us... one chance in three. More tea?)

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